Counterbalance for welder&#39;s hoods



B; A. & ZINNEY COUNTERBALANGE 3 WELDERS Hoops Jan; 26, 1943 Filed May 20, 1942' Jeri INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 26, 1943 UiTED STATES PTENT OFFICE COUNTERBALANOE FOR WELDERS HOODS Bert A. Kinney, Marshall, Tex.

Application May 20, 1942, Serial No. 443,783

2 Claims.

This invention relates to protective headgear for welders or the like as a protection against intense heat and light and in such connection it relates more particularly to an attachment for such headgear.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a counterbalance for a welders hood which operates automatically to raise the hood without the necessity of the operator using his hands for this purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a counterbalance for a welders hood and capable of attachment to a customary type of hood, whereby the operator may, by merely tilting or slightly moving his head, ofiset the balance of the weight and the hood to raise the latter.

A further object of the invention resides in the simplicity of the attachment and its adaptability for adjustment to operate with various types and weights of hoods of the nature referred to.

The invention will be clearly understood from a perusal of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and in the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a welders hood in operative or lowered position on a wearer's head and illustrating an adaptation of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the hood and the counterbalance in a raised or elevated position; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of one side of the hood wall, illustrating a mode of hinging the hood for upward and downward movement.

Having a more detailed reference to the drawing, the counterbalance is intended to be attached to any type of welders hood, such a hood being indicated generally at I and consisting of a body having side walls 2, a top wall 3 and open at the bottom and rear, the side walls forming a continuation to provide a front wall 4. These hoods are made of any preferred or suitable material of a transparent nature and include a dark glass 5 through which the operator, indicated at 0, may observe the work, but which glass prevents injury to the eyes.

The particular object of the device is to expedite the practice of welding by obviating the necessity of the operator using his hand or hands to raise the hood from a working position to an elevated position. A customary method of fastening the hood on the operator's head is by means of a head band 6, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the head band 6 being held in position by a strap 1 which lies across the top of the head. As shown in detail in Figure 3, the head band 6 and the strap 1 are joined at the point 8, inside the body of the hood, and a pin 9 holds these parts together, the pin also traversing the side walls of the hood body, indicated at 2. The pin thus forms a pivot point or hinge for the raising and lowering of the hood, the pivotal adjustment being maintained by the tightening or loosening of the knurled nut Ill as desired.

In carrying out the invention, tothe top wall 3 of the hood there is removably fastened an angular rod which has a flattened and apertured end II for receiving a small bolt with a winged nut I2. This rod is provided on its opposite end with a weight l3 and with set screws I4 so that the weight may he slid along the rod for adjustment according to the'weight of the hood used.

In the operation of the attachment or device, the hood being in the position shown in Figure 1, when necessary to inspect the work being done, instead of using his hands to lift the hood, it is only necessary for the operator to move or incline his head backwardly slightly so that the weight I3 will overbalance the hood body I and cause the weight to move downwardly and thus raising the lower end of the hood to the position shown in Figure 2. In the latter position the welder can easily inspect the work and the hood may be lowered without using his hands by a forward inclination of the head.

By the use of this counterbalance on a welders hood it is possible for a welder to increase his speed on certain types of welding from to per cent.

It is to be particularly noted that the attachment may be removably secured to any type of hood of this nature where it may be used, and

being of a removable nature, the attachment may be taken off the hood in cases where more room for working is required While the disclosure presents a practical working embodiment of the invention as a counterweight for a welders hood, it will be obvious that some changes may be made therein in keeping with the inventive thought, and such as would be within the scope and meaning of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a welders hood for raising and lowering the hood from a working position to an inspecting position, an angular rod having a weight on one end thereof, andmeans for fastening the opposite end of the rod to the upper part of a welders hood, the device functioning on movement of the operators head alone to raise and lower the hood.

2. In combination with a welders hood for raising and lowering the hood from a working position to a work inspecting position, a counterweight attachment comprising a rod having a shank portion, the end portions of the rod being bent angularly with respect to the shank portion, a weight slidabiy and adjustably disposed on one angular end portion and the other angular portion of the rod being removably fastened to the upper part of the hood, the attachment functioning to raise and lower the hood by movement of the operators head only.

BERT A. KIN'NEY. 

